Lima, July 20, 2023. Today, Dina Boluarte, President of the Republic, signed the autograph of the law that creates the new National Infrastructure Authority.. This new institution will have, among others, the challenge of closing infrastructure gaps in our country. However, and in accordance with the
previously alerted by Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR)
In order to ensure a sustainable infrastructure that respects environmental regulations and the rights of the population, this entity must be clearly stated in the regulations that govern it.
In this regard, during the event “An infrastructure for life: Preliminary routes for a sustainable connection in the Amazon”, held last July 13, 7 guidelines were presented that should be taken into account for a sustainable infrastructure, an infrastructure for life.
The event was implemented by Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, the Regional Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples of San Lorenzo (CORPI-SL), Organización Regional de Pueblos Indígenas del Oriente (ORPIO), Organización Regional Aidesep Ucayali (ORAU) and One Planet, to strengthen environmental governance in the Amazon. Based on the cases of road projects in Loreto, Ucayali and the south of the country, technical and social aspects necessary to strengthen the institutional framework and management towards sustainable infrastructure were discussed.
Recommendations from sectors, banks, civil society and experts for road construction
Vanessa Cueto, from DAR, highlighted a series of minimum conditions for the sustainability of road projects from their early stages: (i) local needs approach, ii) identification and evaluation of environmental, climate, economic, social and cultural risks in preinvestment studies and environmental certification, (iii) free, prior and informed consultation with the communities in the area of influence of the highway, (iv) timely supervision and control mechanisms, (v) effective participation in the design and implementation of road projects, (vi) transparent, participatory, inclusive and effective governance; and (vii) the articulation of the legal, climate and infrastructure frameworks. The purpose of these guidelines is to reduce the risks associated with infrastructure, especially roads, in the Amazon region.
Likewise, the Ministry of Environment (MINAM) shared a spatial hierarchical analysis model for the categorization and prioritization of roads with an environmental approach that allowed them to exclude 359 km of roads in natural protected areas, and 362.47 km of roads outside NPAs and native communities. He pointed out that although this model was focused on the coast and highlands, it could be adapted for the Amazon region, together with other elements in accordance with the territory.
In relation to compliance with the climate legal framework, Tania García, from the Ombudsman’s Office, mentioned the importance of including the climate variable in the design of all investment projects in order to increase resilience to climate change, which is a pending task of MINAM and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
In turn, Rafael Capristan, from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), emphasized that the evaluation of the impacts of projects in the Amazon must include other types of analysis, indirect, cumulative and other impacts, considering the intercultural approach. It is important to “ensure the quantification and budgeting of mitigation measures and the identification of indirect and cumulative impacts”.
César Ipenza, a legal expert on environmental issues, mentioned that “all infrastructure needs protection mechanisms, given that deforestation levels are increasing and impacts need to be mitigated. He also mentioned that “infrastructure is necessary but under effective planning and land management mechanisms.
Recommendations from academia and indigenous peoples for road construction
During the event, the book “La ruta a la tierra de Madre de Dios: Una historia de la carretera Interoceánica en Perú”, by academics Stephen Perz and Jorge Luis Castillo, was presented, highlighting that the final economic and social costs of the infrastructure are much higher than initially expected; therefore it is crucial to improve the planning for the governance of the impacts of the work, as well as social inclusion in the participation processes.
The indigenous organizations CORPI-SL, ORPIO and ORAU addressed the impacts on indigenous territories generated by road projects prioritized in their territories and called on the transportation and environmental sectors to ensure that road projects have a reliable environmental impact assessment and guarantee a comprehensive intervention that tangibly benefits native communities.
In reference to the proposed Bellavista-Mazán-Salvador-El Estrecho highway (Loreto), ORPIO’s vice-president, José Murayari said: “we would like the State to guarantee territorial security, since the highway will bring us risks to life, deforestation, child exploitation and human trafficking”, and emphasized “we want the Government to establish an investment package that will benefit the indigenous populations”.
For Ucayali, the case of the highway was presented. Bolognesi – Túpac Amaru – Nuevo Italia – Sheshea BridgeAccording to Judith Nunta, representative of ORAU’s Indigenous Women’s Program, the road is affecting around 25 native communities due to coca crops, human trafficking and diseases linked to deforestation caused by the opening of the road. In this regard, he pointed out that: “n
e are not against the road, but we want it to benefit us as well”.
, emphasizing that prior consultation is important for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.
Finally, in the case of the Iquitos-Saramiriza highway (Loreto), George Cuñachi, of CORPI SL, pointed out that the proposed connections have not been made with adequate comprehensive territorial planning: “What is common is that a highway is opened without legal security, which causes migratory agriculture and deforestation due to illegal logging. The Datem del Marañón is home to the Abanico del Pastaza Ramsar site, which is unique on the planet, and our country has climate change mitigation commitments (…). CORPI SL’s proposal includes community titling and the implementation of life plans, if a road is going to be implemented, to guarantee food security and maintain natural resources”.
The indigenous organizations stressed the need to promote road projects with integral packages that benefit the populations (health posts, schools, control posts, sustainable productive projects, territorial security) in the area of influence of a road project. It is essential to implement mechanisms for free, prior and informed consultation and participation with an intercultural approach, as well as a comprehensive socio-environmental impact assessment, with measures to prevent and mitigate negative impacts that include economic activities based on the life plans of the communities.